Course Chairs
Darryl W. Larson — Embarkation Law Group, Vancouver
Sandra E. Weafer — Department of Justice Canada, Vancouver
About the Course Chairs
Darryl Larson has over 30 years of experience as a lawyer and has represented clients in the Federal Court of Canada (Trial Division and Appeal Division), all levels of court in both British Columbia and Alberta, and at the Supreme Court of Canada. He is a partner at Embarkation Law Group which has its roots in a law firm he co-founded in 1997. Darryl is a past chair of the Immigration Section of the BC Branch of the Canadian Bar Association and a former member of the executive of the National Immigration Section. He has also served as vice-chair of the Immigration Section (BC Branch). In these capacities, he has had extensive dealings with immigration officials at both overseas posts as well as local and national immigration offices. Darryl has successfully helped clients from all over the world obtain permanent residence status in Canada, whether as business, independent, or family class applicants, or in hearings, appeals, and court challenges in Canada. Darryl has co-chaired CLEBC’s annual immigration law update seminar since 2003.
Sandra E. Weafer was called to the bar in 1990. She clerked at the BC Court of Appeal and articled and later practiced at what was then Ladner Downs. In 1993 she joined the Department of Justice where she started practicing immigration law. Her practice at DOJ has been almost exclusively in the administrative law area—mostly immigration and some corrections law. Sandra has appeared at all levels of Court in BC, including both the BC and the Federal Court of Appeal. She has been a frequent speaker for CLEBC and the CBA, and is the past chair of the CBA’s National Immigration Law conference.
Currently Sandra is a Deputy Director in the Public Safety, Defence and Immigration Section at the BC Regional Office of the Department of Justice where she is responsible for assigning files and supervising lawyers who practice in a wide variety of areas related to immigration, border services, policing, and corrections. In addition to volunteering with CLEBC she volunteers with the Law Society of BC as a member of the Rule of Law and Lawyer Independence Advisory Committee and as a non-bencher member of the pool to sit on Law Society hearings. Sandra has co-chaired CLEBC’s annual immigration law update seminar since 2003.
Keynote Speaker
Nick Noorani, "The Expert on Immigrant Outcomes" — Managing Partner, Prepare for Canada, North Vancouver
About the Keynote Speaker
Nick Noorani is a well-known authority on improving immigrant outcomes, and has become a powerful voice for the successful integration of immigrants in Canada and bridging cultural gaps in the workplace and beyond. He is the managing partner of Prepare for Canada where he works with prospective immigrants to prepare for success in Canada.
Nick is a well-known speaker, social entrepreneur, and media personality. He is a bestselling author of the books for immigrants Arrival Survival and Canada Countdown. He is founder of the national magazine Canadian Immigrant, which he created in the basement of his home and launched in 2004; the publication would go on to change the media landscape for immigrants in Canada and around the world. Nick has recently co-written the official Government of Canada handbook for immigrants titled Welcome to Canada. He continues to work with immigrants delivering his 7 Success Secrets speech across Canada as well as speaking to them via webinars in India, the Philippines, UK and the Middle East.
Faculty
The Honourable Douglas Campbell — Federal Court, Ottawa
Becky Chan — Hearings Officer, National Security Unit, Inland Enforcement Section, Enforcement and Intelligence Division, Canada Border Services Agency, Vancouver
Caroline Christiaens — Department of Justice Canada, Vancouver
Trent Cook — Member, Immigration Division, Western Region, IRB, Vancouver
Timothy Fairgrieve — Department of Justice Canada, Vancouver
Douglas Fortney — Assistant Deputy Chairperson, Immigration Appeal Division and Refugee Appeal Division, Western Region, IRB, Vancouver
Fritz Gaerdes — Elgin, Cannon & Associates, Vancouver
Karin Michnick — Assistant Deputy Chairperson, Refugee Protection Division, Western Region, IRB, Vancouver
Shepherd Moss — Chand & Company Law Corporation, Vancouver
Deanna L. Okun-Nachoff — McCrea & Associates, Vancouver
Erica Olmstead — Edelmann & Company, Vancouver
Warren Puddicombe — Elgin, Cannon & Associates, Vancouver
Banafsheh Sokhansanj — Department of Justice Canada, Vancouver
Andrew Z. Wlodyka — Direction Legal LLP, Vancouver